Azores Agricultural Federation warns thefts on São Miguel farms

A The Azores Agricultural Federation today warned of several thefts in agricultural farms on the island of São Miguel, which are hitting fuels, some agricultural machinery, equipment and rations, after a period of “some truces” in occurrences.

“ There was a period of truce, in which there was some calm, but there are again some thefts of fuels, machines, some equipment, fertilizers, seeds and rations, which are in agricultural warehouses,” said the president of the Azores Agricultural Federation, Jorge Rita, in statements to the Lusa agency.

The thefts have never been completely interrupted, but according to the president of the Azores Agricultural Federation, the situation has gained a new dimension “about two months ago”.

According to Jorge Rita, who also presides over the Agricultural Association of the Island of São Miguel, in addition to financial losses, this situation is causing a growing feeling of insecurity among farmers.

“It is a great disappointment that any producer arrives at their exploration and sees that they have stolen part of the materials and diesel,” he said, adding that in some cases the robbers still cause damage to the vehicles to get fuel.

Although some farms already have video surveillance cameras, Jorge Rita maintained that there are other farmers who do not have these mechanisms and “there is always great concern of farmers” who, being home, fear that their exploitation is being robbed at dawn.

According to the president of the Agricultural Federation of the Azores, “more than 90% of the robberies are done in the night” and occur “practically throughout the island of São Miguel”, although with greater focus “on the North and South coasts”.

The president of the Agricultural Federation of the Azores said that PSP has already been contacted, through an email, where the concern of the sector is expressed and further police surveillance is requested in the most affected areas.

Jorge Rita acknowledged the difficulties of PSP in the availability of agents, but argued that, whenever possible, more police surveillance should be carried out with the farms identified as most affected by these assaults.

The president of the Agricultural Federation called on farmers to complain to the PSP whenever they are the target of a robbery, stressing that such participation is essential to enable “the identification of stolen materials and tools” and facilitate research.

For Jorge Rita, the situation “is not only an economic problem” for farmers, but also a threat to the security and tranquillity of “who lives off agricultural activity”.

Lusa tried to obtain information from the PSP Regional Command, without success so far.